Comments on: Me vs. the Powdery Mildew http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/09/powdery-mildew.html Naturally inspired living for the Christian homemaker Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:44:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Sarahhttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/09/powdery-mildew.html/comment-page-1#comment-23633 Sarah Thu, 03 Sep 2009 01:35:04 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/09/powdery-mildew.html#comment-23633 I have the same mildew problem. We've had a couple of massive hale storms in Colorado, so I planted extra plants figuring that the original plants would die from the hale damage, but they're much stronger than I gave them credit for, and now I have double the plants which has caused a lack of air flow, hence: mildew. So in your experience, did the plants die due to the mildew? Does it attack the fruit itself? I haven't taken any actions as of yet, and am hoping that it will take care of itself...wishful thinking. I have the same mildew problem. We've had a couple of massive hale storms in Colorado, so I planted extra plants figuring that the original plants would die from the hale damage, but they're much stronger than I gave them credit for, and now I have double the plants which has caused a lack of air flow, hence: mildew.
So in your experience, did the plants die due to the mildew? Does it attack the fruit itself? I haven't taken any actions as of yet, and am hoping that it will take care of itself...wishful thinking.

]]> By: Stephanie @ Keeper of the Homehttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/09/powdery-mildew.html/comment-page-1#comment-23632 Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:50:16 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/09/powdery-mildew.html#comment-23632 Diana, it turned out to be spaghetti squash, with different coloring. I think it must have intermingled a bit with my zucchini or something, but it still had the same taste and texture as spaghetti squash. Strange, hey? :) Diana, it turned out to be spaghetti squash, with different coloring. I think it must have intermingled a bit with my zucchini or something, but it still had the same taste and texture as spaghetti squash. Strange, hey? :)

]]> By: Diana G.http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/09/powdery-mildew.html/comment-page-1#comment-23631 Diana G. Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:36:47 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/09/powdery-mildew.html#comment-23631 Hi there- Did you ever find out what your odd squash was? I have one right now that looks EXACTLY like that- intermingled between my zucchini and spaghetti squash. Hi there- Did you ever find out what your odd squash was? I have one right now that looks EXACTLY like that- intermingled between my zucchini and spaghetti squash.

]]> By: Kathyhttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/09/powdery-mildew.html/comment-page-1#comment-23630 Kathy Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:26:03 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/09/powdery-mildew.html#comment-23630 I know this is probably way too late, but vinegar and tea tree oil are natural enemies to mold and mildew. You might [do a little research first and make sure it is not harmful to those plants and] make a spray bottle with one or both of those mixed with some water and see if it works. I have only tried it on non-edible plants, but it seems to take care of a lot of nasty bugs that plants tend to get. I know this is probably way too late, but vinegar and tea tree oil are natural enemies to mold and mildew. You might [do a little research first and make sure it is not harmful to those plants and] make a spray bottle with one or both of those mixed with some water and see if it works. I have only tried it on non-edible plants, but it seems to take care of a lot of nasty bugs that plants tend to get.

]]> By: Amyhttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/09/powdery-mildew.html/comment-page-1#comment-23629 Amy Fri, 05 Sep 2008 03:48:18 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/09/powdery-mildew.html#comment-23629 Anything in the squash family is notoriously um... promiscuous so something probably got cross polinated and got in your lot of seeds. Does look like a cross with zuchini. There are some round zuchini out there too. Corn- It's probably a phosphorus or potassium deficiency- can't remember which. I think potassium, it causes the purplish color, although there are a few corn varieties that have more purple color, but that should have been stated on the seed packet as it is a bit of a specialty. Based on the lack of leaves and legginess of the stalk, I'm guessing the deficiency. Hill up the soil at the base of the stalks with some compost, fert with fish emulsion and maybe it will help, but most likely, get a soil test done (cheap through extension service) and correct for next year. Corn is a very needy, high fertilizer plant. Anything in the squash family is notoriously um... promiscuous so something probably got cross polinated and got in your lot of seeds. Does look like a cross with zuchini. There are some round zuchini out there too.

Corn- It's probably a phosphorus or potassium deficiency- can't remember which. I think potassium, it causes the purplish color, although there are a few corn varieties that have more purple color, but that should have been stated on the seed packet as it is a bit of a specialty. Based on the lack of leaves and legginess of the stalk, I'm guessing the deficiency. Hill up the soil at the base of the stalks with some compost, fert with fish emulsion and maybe it will help, but most likely, get a soil test done (cheap through extension service) and correct for next year. Corn is a very needy, high fertilizer plant.

]]> By: Stephaniehttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/09/powdery-mildew.html/comment-page-1#comment-23628 Stephanie Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:58:11 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/09/powdery-mildew.html#comment-23628 Sorry about your tomatoes, Manuela! Shirley, that sounds like a great idea, but I seriously know no one with rabbits!!! That's what you get when you live in the city, I suppose. :) I have read, though, that by taking a butter knife through the soil, making a circle around your tomatoes, you can get them to ripen quickly. I guess the root shock from the knife makes the tomatoes think they need to hurry up. I am going to ask someone to do that for me while I'm on vacation! Candace, I'm with you on the fall planting! Sorry about your tomatoes, Manuela!

Shirley, that sounds like a great idea, but I seriously know no one with rabbits!!! That's what you get when you live in the city, I suppose. :)

I have read, though, that by taking a butter knife through the soil, making a circle around your tomatoes, you can get them to ripen quickly. I guess the root shock from the knife makes the tomatoes think they need to hurry up. I am going to ask someone to do that for me while I'm on vacation!

Candace, I'm with you on the fall planting!

]]> By: Candacehttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/09/powdery-mildew.html/comment-page-1#comment-23627 Candace Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:02:23 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/09/powdery-mildew.html#comment-23627 Hi Stephanie, My plants all look the same. I just figured they were done and have pulled them out and layed them to rest. More room for fall planting! Hi Stephanie,
My plants all look the same. I just figured they were done and have pulled them out and layed them to rest. More room for fall planting!

]]> By: Shirley Mom of 6http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/09/powdery-mildew.html/comment-page-1#comment-23626 Shirley Mom of 6 Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:54:53 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/09/powdery-mildew.html#comment-23626 If you have a friend with rabbits ask for a gallon of rabbit poop to make some manure tea for your tomatoes. I know it sounds weird but it works. Take about 1 gallon of rabbit poop and put it into a five gallon bucket. Fill it with HOT water and let it sit outside in the sun for 2-3 days stirring daily. When it is nice and goopy and stinky "water" your tomato plants with it. The manure tea will help your tomato plants to ripen faster! It really does work. We do this trick each fall to encourage the late ripening tomatoes to hurry up!! Rabbit manure is a great natural fertilizer for your garden too so it will also be nourishing your soil. Happy gardening!! If you have a friend with rabbits ask for a gallon of rabbit poop to make some manure tea for your tomatoes. I know it sounds weird but it works. Take about 1 gallon of rabbit poop and put it into a five gallon bucket. Fill it with HOT water and let it sit outside in the sun for 2-3 days stirring daily. When it is nice and goopy and stinky "water" your tomato plants with it. The manure tea will help your tomato plants to ripen faster! It really does work. We do this trick each fall to encourage the late ripening tomatoes to hurry up!! Rabbit manure is a great natural fertilizer for your garden too so it will also be nourishing your soil.

Happy gardening!!

]]> By: the pleasures of homemakinghttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/09/powdery-mildew.html/comment-page-1#comment-23625 the pleasures of homemaking Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:53:45 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/09/powdery-mildew.html#comment-23625 Well I don't know what to do about the powdery mildew other than spray the plant. I had the same problem with my pumpkins. I got one nice size pumpkin and my yellow squash just shriveled up. Your tomatoes look much better than mine. First we had no rain then we had too much rain! Manuela Well I don't know what to do about the powdery mildew other than spray the plant. I had the same problem with my pumpkins. I got one nice size pumpkin and my yellow squash just shriveled up. Your tomatoes look much better than mine. First we had no rain then we had too much rain!

Manuela

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